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THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY AT WAR WITH THE CHURCH. 




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DISCOURSE, 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE 



First Congregational Church and Society, 



CANTERBURY, CONN., 



June 30tli, 1S44. 




By WALTER CLARKE, 

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH. 



52! 



HARTFORD. 

PRESS OF ELIHU GEER, 2G>^ STATE STREET. 
1844. 



'P^S^ '^v*! 




THE AMERICAN ANIi-SLAVERY SOCIETY AT WAR WITH THE CHURCH. 



DISCOURSE, 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE 



First Congregational Cliurcli and Society, 



IN 



CANTERBURY, CONN 



Jnne SOtli, 1§44. 



By WALTER CLABKE, 

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH. 



/ 



^HARTFORD. 

PRESS OF ELIHU GEER, 26^ STATE STREET. 

1844. 



/- 



Published by request. 



CT 



DISCOURSE, 



JOHN xvi. 2, — Yea, the time will come, when whosoever killeth you will 
think ho doelh God service. 



At the last anniversary of the American Anti-slavery Society, 
held in New York, May 7th, 1844, the following Resolutions 
were presented and passed. 

" Wliereas no institution is more hostile to the Anti-slavery 
movement, than the professedly Christian Church in this coun- 
try ; and whereas, from her permanent position, her high 
professions, her deep hold upon the affections of the people, 
and her immense influence, she ought to he first among the 
foremost in the ranks of freedom : and whereas, by continu- 
ing our connection with so base an institution, we do thereby 
surround the system of American Slavery with holy sanction, 
and entrench it behind religious bulwarks ; therefore 

" Resolved, As the deliberate opinion of this Society, that it is the 
duty of every true abolitionist, to withdraw entirely from the 
support of said institution, and to hold her up before the peo- 
ple, as hypocritical in profession, infamous in practice, as 
having usurped the name of Christian Church, and as being 
one of the greatest obstacles in the way of immediate 
emancipation." 

•' Resolved, That fourteen years of warfare against the slave 
power, have convinced us that every act done in support of the 
American Union, rivets the chains of the Slave, — that the 
only exodus of the Slave to freedom, unless it be one of blood 
must be over the ruins of the present American Church, and 
the grave of the present Union."* 



* National A. S. Standard, for May 16th, and 23d. 



4 

My design in calling your attention to the character, the doc- 
trines, and the objects of this Society, at the present time, is, 
that you may understand beforehand, what is the object of a con- 
vention that is to be held on the Green, in front of this house the 
present week. The American Society which passed the Resolu- 
tions that I have just read, has one, and as I am informed, only 
one auxiliary in this State, and that auxiliary is " The Windham 
County A. S. Society," — the Society that proposes to hold its 
Convention in this place. I have therefore felt it to be my duty, to set 
before you the avowed objects and opinions of this Society, that 
you may not, ignorantly and unintentionally, give your counten- 
ance, or the sanction of your presence, to the meeting of a body 
of men, whose designs are such as the above quoted Resolutions 
and others of the same character, passed by the parent Society 
and by each of its Auxiliaries, adopt and proclaim. 

I deem it due to myself however, to remark at the outset, that 
there are many persons in every community, who call themselves 
abolitionists, but whose feelings on the subject of Slavery I cor- 
dially respect, and whose opinions and aims I can most cheerfully 
second. This large and respectable class of citizens, while they 
hate Slavery, and can never consent to apologize for, or defend 
that unholy and infamous system which subjects the lives and 
dearest rights of millions of our fellow men, to the cruel will of 
irresponsible masters, — stand equally aloof from every traitor- 
ous combination to defame and destroy our Union, and every at- 
tempt to embarrass or ruin our Churches. Against the objects 
and opinions of such persons, I can never find it in my heart to 
lift my voice. But these persons must never be identified with 
that Society, whose Auxiliary is about to hold its Convention in 
this place. The members of that Society, and those who favor 
them, are alone responsible for the opinions published, and the 
measures contemj^jlated in the foregoing resolutions. If you are 
a member of that Society, and do not adopt the views officially 
proclaimed in its name — -then, let the public know it. Withdraw 
from its ranks. Or, at least, enter and publish your honest dissent 
from its opinions. Otherwise, you are justly considered, by the 
community, as equally responsible as any other member. It has 
heretofore been customary to exonerate the Society, and refer 
these extravagant and wicked opinions to individuals, declaring 
that they formed no part of the creed of the Society. But the 
Society has itself now forever forestalled this plea. In the name 
and by the published vote of that Society, afrits great National 
Meeting, these opinions and objects are adopted, and incorporated 
into the Creed and Profession of the Society itself! 

We learn from the Resolutions which I have read, and from the 
doings of the late general meeting, as well as from similar Resolu- 



5 

tions and doings of the Windham'County Auxiliary, what is to be 
the object of the contemplated Convention in this place. The 
Society and its auxiliaries have fully and fairly defined their Creed. 
It is the duty of every true abolitionist, to renounce that " base 
institution" the Christian Church. The slave can be freed only in 
one of two ways ; by bloodshed and war; or by the ruin of the 
American Church, and the burial of the American Union. These 
are the " deliberate" and avowed opinions of that Society. And 
with equal perspicuity, has the Society declared its objects and 
intentions. 

1. It professedly aims at the ultimate freedom of the Slave. 

2. But inasmuch as the ruin of the Church and the Union is, 
in their esteem, an essential preliminary to this grand ultimate 
object, the Society intends first of all, to lay tlie Church in ruins, 
and to butcher and bury the Union; so tliat in their own lan- 
guage, " the Slave can come forth to freedom, over the ruins of the 
present American Church, and the grave of the present Union."* 

And 3dly. They intend to ruin the Church, they say, by en- 
ticing every true Abolitionist who happens to be a church mem- 
ber, to turn traitor, desert the Church, and hold up the " base 
institution" before the people, as hypocritical in profession, infa- 
mous in practice, as having usurped the name of Christian Church, 
and as being one of the greatest obstacles to immediate emancipa- 
tion." 

Thus has this Society fairly defined its position. We know 
from its own lips and its own official reports, just what opinions 
it intends to set forth — just what measures it intends to pursue — • 
and just what results it intends to accomplish. 

The question then arises, my Hearers, how shall this Society 
and its movements be met ? There are several possible modes of 
encountering such an enemy. One is, by abuse and violence ; — • 
by resolutely and forcibly repelling their aggression and en- 
trance. But this method is always impolitic, and, with very few 
exceptions, wrong. Error can neither be put to death, nor put to 
flight, by brute force. Besides, a persecuted and injured party 
ordinarily gains more, by a public sympathy for its sufferings, 
than it loses, by the violence you inflict upon it. Another favor- 
ite method of meeting such a Soc' '^y as this, is, by having public 
debates and discussions, and attempting to argue down error. But, 
the moment you attempt thus to argue down every crazy dogma, 
which the prolific genius of fanaticism can bring forth, you convert 
the entire c«mimunity into one great and factious debating society, 
and life itself into one prolonged and incessant discussion. For, 



Query : How '"immedinte" is this ematicination likely to be 7 



think ! what single truth can ever become so settled, that some 
man will not be found ignorant or conceited enough, to doubt it, 
and to wish to argue upon it. And, think for a moment, what 
would be the condition of things, if this spirit of debate should 
once be thoroughly diffused, like a universal solvent through so- 
ciety ! What would be the condition of the Church, were every 
congregation to begin to hold public and frequent debates, on the 
question — "Whether the Church ought not to be laid in speedy 
ruins" ? What would be tlie condition of our Federal Govern- 
ment, if every village should begin to hold monthly meetings, and 
all the people come together to discuss the question — " Wheth- 
er the Union ought not to be slain and buried" 1 Nay, what kind 
of a place would Heaven itself be, were all its inhabitants to throw 
down their harps, and quit their thrones, and dominions, and high 
duties, run to weekly conventions, and raise stormy debates, on 
the question — "Whether God ought to keep the Throne, and 
execute His will" 1 

Things that are settled, dd not need to be discussed. And if the 
great matters concerning the Church and the Union, the matters 
whcih this Society pretends to doubt, and actually denies with 
rude assaults, are not yet settled, then no question, within the 
whole; sphere of human inquiry, can be settled, — and no truth 
can be relied on. Once admit, that these great questions need 
debating over again, and you declare, in that admission, that de- 
bate is absolutely useless, and absurd. What is debate good for, 
if debate on the same topic, must be prolonged for ever ; if we 
can never leave first principles, and go forward with Paul, unto 
perfection." What is the utility of debate, if questions, that have 
been for centuries before the public mind, and examined every 
week, are yet undecided ? What can we hope from new discus- 
sion, if the disputes of a thousand years, have settled nothing, con- 
cerning the character and claims of the Christian Church'? 

Another method of treatment is, to let error alone, and leave 
it to die by its own stings. This is always a good method, pro- 
vided, you can persuade the whole community to unite with you, 
in letting it alone. If a man comes among us with a quantity of 
thistle-seed, and all the people will only agree to exclude him from 
their fields, his seed will do no hurt, while it is kept in the bag, or the 
measure. But, if one and another of the people will throw down 
his bars, and bid the man enter and sow, as he lists ; then the com- 
munity can never secure their fields, by letting the matter alone. 
To let it alone, is the very way to ensure the spread of thistles, 
from lot to lot, and farm to farm, until a whole township is over- 
run and occupied. My own opinion is, that it is best that error 
should die in all cases. And if, in any case, error will die sooner, 
by letting it alone — we ought to let it alone. But, if it thrives 



and takes courage, by being let alone, we must then resort to 
some wise method of effectual extermination. 

Before I conclude this discourse, you will perceive, I think, that 
the present position of the American Anti Slavery Society, is such, 
that it can not be safely let alone, by any community, or Church, 
or Pastor, who would acquit themselres of the responsibility, un- 
der which they are justly held, both by God and by their fellow 
men. The position of that Society and its Auxiliaries, puts into 
their hands a new and powerful weapon of evil — gives them a 
new opportunity to agitate, and embitter families and villages, 
and to embroil the comunitity in excitement and contention. 
For, think ! Is the Church to be destroyed, and that peace- 
ably 1 Having stood for two centuries, on these hills and by 
these water courses ; having sent forth her roots in all directions, 
to penetrate every household ; bearing fruit which thousands 
eagerly pluck, as giving some foretaste of that which grows on the 
heavenly hills; — is this Church, rooted in the very hearts of 
thousands, who would give their hearts best blood, to feed it, — 
now to be rudely torn up — and flung, to float prostrate and dead, 
upon the swollen stream of modern fanaticism 1 And that, with- 
out a struggle, on the part of those who love the Church ? It 
cannot be. However, I do not suppose that this society will ever 
accompUsh its aims. I have no apprehension that the Church is 
in any special danger of ruin, from the hostility of this society. 
But then, will this society quit the field without a struggle ] Hav- 
ing flung their flag to the breeze, and inscribed upon its fluttering 
folds — Death to the Church ! — having selected every town 
and village among us, for the scene of a fierce struggle ; intrud- 
ing themselves unbidden, upon every reluctant community ; seiz- 
ing upon ground from which they are not by force, excluded ; — 
can it be supposed that they will now retreat, and give up the cam- 
paign, without a contest — a prolonged and decisive battle ? No ! 
The society must be met. To let it alone, is treason to the 
Church — treason to the Union. I propose to meet it, as a minis- 
ter of Christ ; and having already exhibited to you, what are the 
real objects of this Society, and of its Auxiliary, in its contemplat- 
ed convention among us, I now design to show you — 

That this very plan of attack upon the Church, was foreseen and 
provided for, hy the Great Head of the Church — and then to ex- 
plain to you — 

The reasons, why men attack the Church as this Society does. 

1. Christ foresaw, and provided for this very mode 

OF ATTACK UPON THE ChURCH. 

While the Saviour was on earth, he often assured his disciples, 
that they would be hated and persecuted, among men. But in the 
text, he foretells an event that would be still more strange and 
surprising. He informs them, that the time will come, when men 



8 

will attempt to destroy the Church, and will even plead zeal for 
religion, as their only motive! If you will think of this a little, 
you will see the propriety of Christ's method of introducing the 
announcement. " Yea — the time will come" — "you think it 
strange, that men who professedly hate me and my system, should 
treat you Avith malice and violence; — that they should see any 
thing in the conduct of my discjples, that merits abuse and perse- 
cution. But, strange as it is, u will certainly prove true. Nay, 
more. Men have not reached the extreme of bigotry yet. Blind 
malice is yet in its infancy. The time will come, when this infant 
whose rage now terrifies you, will be full grown ; and will not 
only hate and persecute the Church, as now, but will attain to 
such an excess of self deception, that it will persecute the Church, 
as a God's service''' ! Christ felt that He was foretelling a wonder. 
And he spoke accordingly. " Yea" ! There is an emphasis upon 

this word, and a pause after it. " Yea," prepare your minds 

for sometliing still more surprising — "Yea the time will 

comC; \ hen whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God 
service." You will observe that Christ does not say that men will 
pretend, hypocritically and falsely pretend, that they are doing 
God service, by laying His bleeding Church upon the altar. He 
says that they will be sincere, (that is, in the sincerity of malice 
and bigotry,) that they will truly think, that to abuse and destroy 
the CImrch, is a work well pleasing to God. The experience of 
Paul is of great value, in illustrating this subject. While a perse- 
cutor of the Church, he was fulfilling the prophetic words of the 
text. He " verily thought," he was doing God service, by immo- 
lating the Church of Christ. And it is interesting, as showing a 
great coincidence of character, in all similar persecutors, it is in- 
teresting to notice his own confession, concerning another senti- 
ment, which he indulged, side by side with his zeal for doing God 
the service of destroying the disciples of His Son. " And, being 
exceedinghj mad against them, I persecuted them, even unto strange 
cities" ! Paul was not the last of this race of Church destroyers. 
Christ has left the text on record, and sent it down to us, that we 
may know, what to expect, and where our defense lies. " These 
things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may re- 
member that I told you of them." 

You are aware my hearers, that the time spoken of by our Sa- 
viour, in the words of the text, has now come in the history of 
these New England Churches. You are aware that for years, we 
have had in New England, an organization of men and women, 
whose great aim, and avowed intention, is, to break down these 
Churches of Christ, and that too, under the plea of zeal for relig- 
ion. This organization, by holding meetings and conventions in 
every town, by circulating tracts, and pictures and papers, and by 
a corps of travelling agents and lecturers, is assailing every Church 



in this section of our State, and endeavoring to induce these mem- 
bers of Churches, who fall in with their views, to abandon, and 
denounce the Churches, to which by solemn covenant, they are 
wedded. And this effort has already succeeded to that extent, 
that some one or more members of almost every Church, 
around us, have publicly renounced the Church, and abandoned 
its worship and communion. The plea, for thus abscond- 
ing from the Church, is in all cases — religion, zeal for do- 
ing God service. Those who thus amputate the body of Christ, 
do not withdraw, because they find in themselves, as they think, 
too little religious principle, to fit them for a worthy and prolong- 
ed membership. They depart, because they find, as they pro- 
fess, so much piety in themselves, and so little in the Church ! 
They have discovered that they have too much religion, to stay 
longer in a Christian Church! The leaders seek to destroy, and 
the lead denounce and abandon the Church, that they may in this 
way, do God a service ; — thus illustrating what Christ foresaw 
and provided for, when he said, " the time will come, when who- 
soever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service." 

The enemies of the Church have, in different ages, adopted 
various experiments for her ruin. At one time, they have called 
in the Civil Power, and attempted to annihilate the Church, in 
the flames of Persecution. At another time, they have brought 
in a false religion, a religion of pompous rites and ceremonies, 
and undertaken to smother Christianity, under the mantle of 
a fashionable Formality. At another time, they have enlisted 
Reason, and Learning, and Science, in a crusade against the 
Church, and sought to ars^ue, and confound, and thus to destroy 
Religion. Again, they have heaped ridicule upon the Church, 
and endeavored to sting her to death, with Sarcasm. But, 
strangest of all methods, the one now on foot ! — the eft'ort to 
array Religion herself, against the Church, and to dismember and 
destroy Christ's visible Body, by the hands of Christ's own 
disciples ! 

II. V/nAT ARE THE REASONS OF THIS NEW MODE OF ATTACK ? 

I answer, 

1. Men think they do God service, while persecuting the 
Church, because they easihj deceive themselves in reference, to God's 
real character. 

It is very natural for men, to associate all their strong feelings, 
with the conviction of God's approbation. We are very apt to 
think, that what greatly interests us, must be of equal importance, 
in the esteem of our Maker. The Bible charges men with the 
common error, of thinking " that God is altogether such an one 
as themselves."" How often is it true of soldiers, when entering 
2 



10 

the field of battle, with all their passions kindled to a frenzj^^ 
that they rush upon the enemy, with the full persuasion that they 
are fighting in the cause of God, — that He has espoused their 
side — am!, that the God of battles watches the success of their 
arms, with as much earnestness and solicitude, as they them- 
selves feel ! And there are numerous instances recorded in the 
Bible, in which the same mistake has been made. Some of the 
disciples of Christ were very much enraged at one time, because 
the Samaritans were unwilling that their Master should pass 
through their city, in his way to Jerusalem. These disciples at 
once concluded, that God must feel just as they did about the 
matter, and were ready to call confidently, for fire to fall from 
Heaven, and consume the objects of their blind rage. The 
Scribes and Pharisees often itnimated their belief, that God hated 
Christ and his cause, as intensely as they did. This natural 
tendency of the selfish heart, to imagine that God sympathizes 
with all its strong feelings, will account for the fact, that men 
tiiink they are doing God a service, while eagerly persecuting the 
Church. 

Let a company of men, of ardent and impetuous temperament, 
of undisciplined and yet intractable minds, take up some enter- 
prise of imaginary benevolence, and become its prominent pat- 
rons, and advocates ; let them concentrate tli'eir thoughts, and 
confine their zeal to the promotion of that one enterprize ; let 
them set forth to their work, buoyant and hopeful, designing 
and expecting, to bring the whole community into their ranks,, 
and under their standard ; and then, let them encounter opposi- 
tion and obstacles ; especially, let ministers and churclies refuse 
to follow them ; and it is the easiest thing in the world, for such 
men to feel as John and James did, — tlie easiest thing in the 
world, for them to conclude, that these dissenting ministers and 
chuiehes, " are hypocritical in profession, infamous in practice," 
and deserve to be immediately blasted^ by the descending fire 
of Heaven. It avails nothing, for us to assure them that we 
are pledged to the Bible, and can follow only where the Word 
leads; — it has no weight in their minds, when we declare, that 
it is from no love or approbation of Slavery, that we decline to 
join their ranks. No f they ai*e confident, that their cause is the 
cause of God ; that their measures, and men and movements 
are all such as Heaven sanctions ; that they are so peculiarly and 
exclusively right, that every other way of opposing Slavery 
must be such as God abhors, and man ought to abominate. We 
try to defend ourselves in another way. We point them to the 
page of History. We refer them to those numerous instances on 
record, in which Slavery has been abolished — on the Continent 
of Europe, in Great Britain, and here in these New England 



11 

States. We show them, that never befcjre has it been tliouglit 
needful, to destroy the Church, or break up an established Gov- 
ernment, in order to remove slavery. The churches of Connec- 
ticut were not overthrown, nor ever attacked ; nor was the 
government of this State laid in its grave, preparp.tory to the 
act of general emancipation that took place here, half n century 
since. And we ask them, why it should be now necessary, that 
" the exodus of the slave to liberty, should be over the Ruins 
of the American Church, and the grave of the present Union 1" 
But these inquiries and reasons avail nothing, so long as we refuse 
to join their ranks. We are obliged to tell them, that we cannot 
yet see our way clear, to become the enemies of these churches, 
and the destroyers of this Union. We cannot cease to remember, 
with devout and ardent attachment, these churches, planted with 
the tears and prayei-s of our slumbering forefathers ; planted too, 
as we believe, in the Covenant and the Grace of the Head of the 
Church. We remember, that it was here, those worthy forefath- 
ers worshipped and sang ; — here, they devoted themselves and 
their offspring to God. Hither we were brought in early years, 
and carefully taught in the right ways of the Lord. Here, we 
were many of us given up to Christ in baptism ; — here, we have 
heard from Sabbath to Sabbath, the precious words of Truth and 
Life; — here, we trust the good Spirit of God sealed instruction 
upon our hearts ; — and here, from time to time, we have met 
our friends and brethren, and as we trust, our Saviour too, at his 
own sacramental table. And often have we exclaimed in our 
hearts, in the midst of these happy Sabbath scenes, " If we forget 
thee, O Jerusalem, let our right hand forget her cunning. If we 
do not remember thee, let our tongue cleave to the roof of our 
mouth; if we prefer not .Terusalem above our chief joy." And 
now, when we are startled by the ancient cry, repeated against 
the Church of our love, — "Raze it — raze it, even to its foun- 
dations" — we recoil with horror, and seem to hear the sor- 
rowful voice of Christ himself, breaking from the parted sky, and 
saying to us in the midst of frequent desertions, — " Will ye also 
go away ?" No, we cannot, we dare not join the ranks of those, 
whose motto is — " Destroy the Church ;" and we tell them so, 
and give them our reasons. But these men can see no force, in 
our reasonings; no sincerity, in our pleas; no honesty, in our 
dissent. And, why 1 

Why, because they have easily persuaded themselves that their 
cause is the cause of God, — exclusively and especially, — both 
that in which we agree with them, and that in which they go be- 
yond us, and our Bibles too, — all, part and parcel, — all is the 
cause of God. And God looks upon their enterprize in all its 
parts, with as much approbation, and seeks its success with a« 



12 

much eagerness, as they do. God is well pleased with all their 
designs, well pleased with all their measures, well pleased with 
all their men, well pleased with all their doctrines, and declara- 
tions, and movements. And because God is their patron. He 
must be our foe. Because He approves of them^ He must disap- 
prove of us. Because His zeal for their cause, is, like their own, 
intense, His hatred of the Church must be also like theirs, burn- 
ing and implacable ! What an easy argument ! " God feels just as 
we do. Ministers and Churches do not. Therefore Ministers and 
Churches are hypocritical in professionand infamous in practice !' 
Was ever any conclusion more logically drawn, granting only the 
first postulate 1 " God feels just as we do." Find some means 
of leaping over this premise, and a child can reach the conclusion. 
If this proposition be the truth of God, it is a lever with which 
an infant can overthrow the Church. But what if instead of 
being the truth of God, it should turn out to be nothing more 
than the dream of a blind bigot 1 What then becomes of the 
Church ? and what is your conclusion, upon which the Church 
was just now to be dashed — what is it, but an overhanging rock, 
which, slipping from its treacherous foundation, is ready to grind 
to powder, him upon whose head it falls ! 

Christ explained the fact, that men would think they were doing 
God service while seeking the ruin of the Church, by informing 
us of the ignorance of such men, in reference to God's true 
character. " These things they will do" says he in the verse fol- 
lowing the text, " because they have neither known the Father nor 
»«e." Men may easily persuade themselves, that God is altogether 
such an one as themselves — that He loves what they 
love, hates what they hate, — and seeks the destruction of what- 
ever comes in the way of their designs. They may easily come 
to imagine, that they and their Maker are so well agreed, as to 
the character and merits of those who stand aloof from their 
ranks, that they need only to call for fire from on high, and it will 
come ; and Heaven's descending flash will open a path to liberty, 
for the slave, through the ruins of a thousand Churches, and the 
graves of a whole sisterhood of States ! But it is nothing new, for 
men to be confident concerning God's imagined feelings, and at 
the same time, ignorant of His real character. It is no new 
thing, for men to think themselves and their plans, peculiar favor- 
ites of the Omniscient. " These things have I told you," says 
Christ, " that when tiie time shall come, ye may remember that 1 
told you of them." And remembei'ing his words, we are not sur- 
prised at the movement of this Society, as at an unexpected event. 
These things are not unlooked for. And Christ has told us that 
when men, in the excess of mahce and bigotry, think they can 
do God service, by destroying the Church, we may remember 



13 

and understand, that such men do not know either the Father or 
the Son — that they have deceived themselves in reference to the true 
character of God. 

2. Another reason why men think that they shall do God ser- 
vice by destroying the Church is, because this dream flatters their 
self-righteousness. 

When men become very much interested in any cause, when 
their interests and enthusiasm are all enlisted in the success of 
that cause ; then if they can only make it appear to their own 
self-flattering hearts, that their favorite enterprise is identical 
with the cause of religion, they are always peculiarly gratified 
with the compliment. For then they can take full credit for 
piety, and at the same time escape its crosses and hardships. 
Thus you sometimes find a hard-working and penurious man, 
striving to convince himself, and prove to others, that industry 
and economy like his, are a religion, as good as axiy other ! This 
is a very convenient doctrine for such a man. For, observe ! 
Such a religion costs him no extra effort. He would do just 
as he does — woi-k hard and save all — if he had never heard of 
such a thing as religion in all his life. And again : Such a re- 
ligion enables him to serve God without ceasing to serve him- 
self. So of that Society and its Auxiliaries, which have publicly 
proclaimed their determination to ruin the American Church, 
and dig the grave of the federal Union. If they could only satisfy 
themselves that such a work of destruction is truly a God-service, 
why then, a religion corresponding so perfectly with all their pre- 
vious wishes and aims, and harmonizing so entirely with all their 
intensest aspirations, would be the easiest conceivable service to 
them. It would doubtless be a great self-denial, for those who 
have renounced the Church, to come back and confess their apostacy 
with becoming penitence ; it would be an indescribable self-deni- 
al, for all their agents and lecturers and editors, to let the ChurcJt 
alone, or to speak well of it. If religion should really happen 
to demand these things at their hands, what bleeding martyrs of 
self-denial, would duty make of many men, who can now denounce 
the Church with a most surprising and dexterous facility, and 
daily pronounce the commonwealth of Israel, "a brotherhood of 
thieves !" But if they can only believe tliat religion sanctions all 
their burning hatred and noisy abuse of the Church, why then 
truly, to their minds, religion's " ways are ways of pleasantness, 
and all her paths are peace." The yoke of Christ is peculiarly 
easy, and the burden truly light, if he only requires of them, hos- 
tility and zeal, and effort, in destroying the hated Church ! How 
much easier had it been for Paul to have completed his journey to 
Damascus, had a voice from heaven only cried in his ears, " Paul 



14 

thou art doing God service !" instead of that other voice, (so op- 
posed to his exceeding mad disposition towards the Church,) 
*' Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me !" 

And then again : if there be more religious principle in renounc- 
ing the Church, than in remaining a humble and faithful member, 
within the fold, how easy for one or more members of the Church, 
to become notedand eminent for superior piety ! Let a member on- 
ly renounce the church, and the act is so singular, so surprising, 
so awful, in the view of most men, that intelligence of it, as of some 
shocking event, is at once circulated through the whole community. 
The man is pointed out wherever he passes, and the gaze of a 
■whole town or country, perhaps, is drawn upon this one member of 
the Church, on account of this one transaction. Now, if this deser- 
tion of the Church is to be regarded as altogether the result of 
peculiar piety, how very distinguished for religious principle, 
must such a course at once make a man. Ordinarily, a Christian 
advances gradually, if at all, to eminent attainments in piety. We 
do not expect, as things have been since the fall of man, that a 
member of the Church, who has for years manifested no more re- 
ligious fidelity than other members ; we do not expect that such 
a man Avill take an electric start, and rise above all the rest of 
the Church in a single month, becoming so holy, that brethren 
■with whom he has stood for years on a religious level, are now so 
corrupt, and such an abomination in his esteem, that he cannot 
remain in the Ciiurch long enough to try to reform one of them ! 
We have been told by men who seemed to know ■whereof they 
affirmed, that human nature is such a thing, that men may become 
'• exceedingly mad" in a short time ; and yet, such is the same 
human nature, that it takes a great while for men to become ex- 
ceedingly /io/y. But if this renouncing the Church is truly the re- 
sult of superior piety, and is to be so regarded, what a short and 
easy way does it open for an entire Church, to become eminent in 
religion. All you have to do, my Brethren, is merely to come to- 
gether and angrily dissolve the Church, and tread your covenant 
in the mire, and the work is done. One such meeting, held and 
terminated without a prayer ; one vote would do more to make 
you distinguished, than a hundred ordinary conferences, where 
you do nothing but ])ray and confess your sins, and mourn the 
hidings of God's countenance ! Self-righteousness is always busy, 
inventing improvements in religion ; always studying how she can 
make the smallest services bring the highest wages. Look at tlie 
Pharisee. Read his own inventory of his religion. "I give tithes, 
and fast twice a week." Is that all ? Yes ; all. That is the 
way the Pharisee becomes eminent. He has no idea of taking 
Christ's tedious up-hill road to a far off" distinction. He is an in- 
ventive character. He can find an easier and a shorter path. How 



15 

much easier, to o^ain eminence for piety by one act, by renodn- 
cing the Church, than to pursue eminence through the long jour-* 
ney of a faithful and consistent discharge of every duty embraced 
in the Christian covenant ! And if this new way is truly a way of 
doing God service, then with what complacency must a man look 
upon himself, when he takes his position out of the Church, and 
reflects, that he is the only person in a Avhole township, who is in 
possession of that amount of religious principle which is equal to 
the task of doing this God-service of renouncing His Church I 
And how must it flatter all who can effectually delude themselves 
into the belief that this is a God-service, to remember, that with 
so little humility, so little prayer, and so little study of God's word, 
they have yet become so distinguished, marked out, and known 
of all, for their superior regard to the service of God. Why, 
such persons stand eminent, not only above other Christians and 
Ministers, of the present day, but also, above all martyrs and pro- 
phets and apostles of past times, and even above Christ himself. 
The prophets lived and died in the bosom of the Jewish Church. 
Though members of that Church held slaves, bought and sold 
slaves ; though some of its members were at times idolaters even ; 
though Isaiah was inspired of God to teach the people duty, and 
is claimed at the present day as the great exemplar of those who 
" spare not" the Church, " crying aloud, and lifting up their voi- 
ces like a torrent," saying, " Raze it, raze it, even to the founda- 
tions ;" yet Isaiah and all the prophets ye// short of that excessive 
measure of piety, which would lead them to renounce that Church, 
which they ever preferred above their chief joy. Christ and his 
disciples, and the Jews who were converted under their preaching, 
lived and died in the Jewish Church. Luther remained in the 
Roman Church, and never dreamed of renouncing it, till he was 
excommunicated by the Pope. And even the Puritans could not 
boast of this new eminence in religion. It was reserved for a few 
men in New England, men long known, hut never remarkable for 
piety, till this act made them so ; it was reserved for these favor- 
ed ones, to climb up^climb did I say — -nay, to bound at a single 
leap, to a stand in the service of God, from which they may look 
down on martyrs, and prophets, and apostles, and even on Christ 
himself! 

How can self righteousness desire a better prospect than this 1 
By what path can she surer or easier reach the very pinnacle of 
religious distinction, than by this new way of destroying the 
Church in the service of God 1 Men persuade themselves that 
to persecute the Church is doing God service, because in that way 
their self-righteousness can he best gratijied. 

3. A third reason why men claim that the destruction of the 
Church would be a God-service, is, because it puts into their mouths 
many otherwise unavailable arguments and powerful persuasives^ 



16 

This Society and its auxiliaries, are ambitious of success. They 
are eager to bring the greatest possible number of followers into 
their ranks — to draw to the shore a net full, having " gathered of 
every kind." They have no power, with which to force men ; they 
have few honors, or offices, or rewards, with which to bribe fol- 
lowers. They must therefore, depend upon a skilful use of ar- 
guments, and must bait with well adjusted motives, or they can 
never pei-suade and entrap the people. The tastes and prejudi- 
ces and sympathies of men, must be studied, and arguments be 
^^ cut to Jit,'''' or they labor in vain. 

Now a mere glance at the state of the popular mind, will sat- 
isfy any observer, that this very hostility to the Church, on pre- 
tense of doing God service, furnishes an outfit of arguments, and 
pleas, that cannot fail to win the hearts of numbers in every com- 
munity. Let me lead you through any village and designate sev- 
eral distinct classes of character that begin to develop themselves 
here in the present picture of New England Society. 

1. I point you to a class of men who retain a hereditary rev- 
erence for religion, and who at the same time manifest a most 
restive and unruly aversion to all the restraints of visible and 
practical godliness. These men desire a change and revolution 
in Society. Religion in the abstract, imposes no restraint upon 
the sinner, throws no bridle over his impatient lusts. Religion 
embodied — in a Church with its Ministry, and Sabbaths, and dis- 
tinct and visible example ; this it is, which arouses the hatred of 
these men, because this embodied religion has an eye and a voice, 
and a visible presence. It follows them, watches them, speaks to 
them, troubles them, " Oil, if this embodied and visible religion 
would but disappear ! If Ahab could only walk forth without be- 
ing compelled to meet God's messenger, and to cry, ' Hast thou 
found me, O mine enemy !' If religion would only dwindle and 
dissolve into an invisible abstraction /" This is the language of 
many a heart among us. And to every such heart, this crusade 
against the Church, followed, as it is likely to be, by a more gen- 
eral war upon every visible embodiment of religion; upon the 
Ministry, the Sabbath, the Bil)]e,is a most welcome event. Rea- 
dy beforehand to enlist, the recruiting lecturer needs only blow 
the clarion, and utter his motto, " Deatli to the Church," and 
these men huriy at once into the ranks. 

2. There is a class of persons in every community, who, though 
not well informed, and not in the habit of thinking much for 
themselves, yet cherish a sincere respect for genuine piety, and 
abhor all insincerity and hypocrisy. Sincere and honest them- 
selves — they are accustomed to regard all others, especially all 
public teachers, as equally destitute of craft and treachery. An 
artful lecturer calls them around him — and displaying great ap- 



17 

parent zeal for religion, and a holy horror of all hypocrisy, he be- 
gins to paint a portrait of the Church, setting it forth in every im- 
aginable color of guilt and insincerity. The simple-minded, but 
well-disposed hearer, swallows the honeyed morsel, and goes home 
unconscious of the trick that has been played upon his credulity, 
and really dreaming that, as the lecturer said, " the Church is hy- 
pocritical in profession, infamous in practice, deserving the death 
of a traitor." 

3. There is a class of persons, rendered still more numerous 
by the recent reverses and revolutions in business and speculation, 
who are ever jealous of their own rights and respectability, ever 
imagining that the community, the Church, and the Pastor, give 
them too little attention — do not make enough of them. These 
persons, cherishing before hand a secret spite, are often ready to 
welcome an opportunity, and seize an offered pretext for coming 
out and expressing their pre-existing ill-will against the Church, 
and its Pastor. To such persons these measures for destroying 
the Church as a God-service, are often peculiarly welcome ; and 
these persons are often among the first recruits which this Socie- 
ty enrolls. 

4. There are in every community, the disciples of some false 
and feeble system of pretended religion. These persons cannot 
of course array themselves against all Churches and Ministers, 
their own, with others. Yet they are peculiarly exasperated at 
the prominence and superiority of our own Churches. And so 
they stand ready to unite with any Society, and adopt any mea- 
sures ; ready to hold temperance meetings, and abolition meet- 
ings,* and haul in the yoke with any body of men, who will help 
them embarrass and cripple these hated orthodox Churches. 

5. There is an increasing number of unquiet and efiervescent 
spirits in the community ; of men who are averse to whatever 
bears the mark of age, and order, and uniformity. These per- 
sons are impatient of stability, eager for changes, ready to em- 
brace new things ; having itching ears, and always on the scent 
after strange opinions, excitements, and turmoils. This class of 
persons dread, above all things, a calm ; court the whirlwinds. 
Such men lend a Avilling ear to the denunciations of the Church, 
and eagerly volunteer in the ranks of those leadei's, who are aim- 
ing to bring on a new order of things, when in the track of a 
mighty moral tornado, the American Church shall be seen lying* 
in ruins, and the present Union hid in the grave ! 



*The Universalists in this section of the State, are Ijecoming very zealous on 
the subject of temperance and that of abolition. Can any body guess the reason ? 



18 

This hasty survey of the various phases of the popular 
mind, is sufficient to show that the present position of the Ameri- 
can Society for destroying the Church, has not been taken with 
any rash and negligent inconsideration. The agents and leaders 
of that Society, have carefully observed the character and feel- 
ings of these several classes of community, while itinerating from 
village to village. This position of hostility to the Church was 
not taken, vmtil it was fully ascertained that in this way disciples 
could be entrapped. They have discovered that large classes of 
the community can be reached by a Church denouncing and a 
Church destroying Anti-Slavery Society, better than by any other. 
And hence, the several successive changes in the measures and ob- 
jects, and conduct of that Society. Hence too, the recent change 
in the editorship of their official Paper, and the corresponding 
change in the tone and character of that journal. From simple 
opposition to slavery, the Society has advanced to oppostioa 
to the Church and the Union,* and by an adroit and skill- 
ful change of position, it has managed to furnish such a va- 
riety of pleas and persuasions, as will correspond with every va- 
riety of persons who entertain any secret dislike of the Church, 
the Sabbath, and the Ministry. For these reasons, I say, that 
among the inducements which this Society has to destroy the 
Church in the name of religion, is, because it piits into their mouths 
many otherwise unavailable arguments and powerful persuasives. 

I do not suppose that these three reasons can all be found ope- 
rating in the heart of eveay individual of that Society. I do not 
know that any one of them may be found in every heart. I repeat 
what I have already said, that I suppose some of the members of 
that Society to be out of their place. The Society does not faithful- 
ly represent their sentiments. They joined the Society because 
they were sincerely the friends of the slave. They have, perhaps, 
with equal sincerity, adopted some of the wrong opinions of the 
Society. Their fault is not insincerity, but ignorance. For the 
others, I suppose the three reasons which I have now presented, 
taken separately or together, will cover the whole ground, and 
explain the whole action of the Society in question. But what- 
ever may be thought of these reasons, a few facts are beyond 
question, and worthy of distinct comparison and remembrance. 

It is beyond question that men will seek the destruction of the 
Church. Christ tells us so. 



* To see wliai proportion ihtir hatred of slavery bears to their dislike of the 
Church, compare their resolutions and speeches on the two subjects, at any one of 
their recent meetings. 



19 

« 

It is beyond question that this Society and its auxiliaries seek 
the destruction of the Church. Their published and often re- 
peated Resolutions tell us so. 

It is beyond question, that men will claim and think that they 
are doing God service, while seeking to lay the Church in ruins. 
The text is proof of that. 

It is beyond question, that this Society claims to be doing God 
service in seeking to overthrow the Church. Their reports and 
speeches and public Resolves all attest it. 

Now this position of this Society must be explained in some 
way. I have explained it according to my views of the truth. 
But to explain an act is not to justify it. And before God and 
the world, this open and malignant attack upon the Church, calls 
for justification. It calls for a justification from the professedly 
religious leaders of that Society. It calls for a justification, from 
every member of that Church-destroying organization. It calls 
for a justification from every individual, who by his presence, or 
by any other act encourages the meetings, and the movements of 
that Society. The Bible imposes a fearful responsibility on that 
man, whoever he is, who dares to array himself as a persecutor, 
against one of the sincere members of Christ's Church. " Take 
heed that ye offend not one of these little ones. Better for thee, 
that a millstone were hanged about thy neck, and thou drowned 
in the depths of the sea!" The Church has no weapons of war 
by which to defend herself. She goes through the world trusting 
to the protection of her Sheplierd. She has often been persecuted 
and afflicted. She has been led to the dungeon, and to the stake, 
helpless as the mute and unresisting lamb. But in her very weak- 
ness, there is might ! There is that in the cries and mute com- 
plaints of an afflicted and persecuted Church, which is more 
terrible to her enemies, than armed legions, and glittering sabres, 
and thundering artillery. He who sitteth in the Heavens hears 
her every complaint. He whose arm has plucked the Church 
from many a heated furnace, and laid many a proud and persecu- 
ting empire in the dust, — He who keepeth Zion, will protect 
His people, and bring to nought the counsels of their enemies. 

And now, my Hearers, let us in conclusion understand our 
individual duty, in reference to this Society and its contemplated 
Convention among us. The design of its leaders in holding it in 
the place they have selected is very apparent. It is not because 
this place is surrounded by people belonging to that Society, or 
friendly to its objects. It is doubtless for another purpose. And 
what is that other purpose, but an eftort to draw in from this 
community, persons who will listen to their malicious attacks upon 
the Church and the Union ? What they desire, is, an audience 
furnished from this Congregation ; that they may speak in the 



20 

ears of all the people, — and make converts of all who can be 
deceived and decoyed into their ranks. Individuals of that Soci- 
ety are industriously circulating among" us, invitations to attend 
this approaching Convention, And it deserves notice, that these 
invitations ai-e all couched in a disguise. Not one of them has 
openly and honestly asked us to be present, at a meeting, where 
the Church and the Union are to be abused and calumniated. 

And now, what is our duty ? If it is proper for one of us to at- 
tend, it is proper for all of us to be present. Suppose then that 
the entire community should attend ; — what would be the conse- 
quence? Why, we should have at once, a class of converts among 
us. This convention would pass away — but it would leave be- 
hind it, to dwell, and act, and agitate in our midst, a company of 
persons whose mouths would be forever filled with abuse of the 
Church, and with outcries against the Union. And, my hearers, 
do we as a community, feel the need of raising up such a society 
as this in our midst? You are a father. Do you wish your son, 
or your daughter to become at once, the bitter and implacable 
enemy of the Union and the Church? Over no class of persons 
lias this Society mf)re influence, than over the ardent and unthink- 
ing young. Its ranks are filled, its agencies and offices are filled 
to a great extent, with spoiled youth ; with young men whose minds 
and hearts have been thoroughly distorted and misshaped. Many 
a young man has been ruined in his prospects, by entering the 
ranks of that Society. It cannot be otherwise. For how can the 
community respect, or trust a young man, after he has proclaimed 
himself an enemy of that government under which our fathers 
and we have lived ? Or how can the Church trust a son of hers, 
after hearing his published and boasted determination, to raze it 
even to its foundations ? Who of us is willing to see his own son 
poisoned and infatuated by this restless mania for destroying all 
established Institutions, and bringing a social chaos, upon these 
happy villages ? If, as a community, you wish to see these results 
— go — go, one and all, and expose yourselves to this spreading 
contagion. But Jirst stop, and carefully count the cost. 

On the other hand : if it is proper for one of us to stay away, 
it is proper for all to do it. Suppose then we should all stay away. 
Suppose we should every one, old and young, pursue our ordinary 
business on that day, and leave this Society to hold its meeting by 
itself, and to do what good or evil it may, among its own members. 
Who of us would be injured by such a measure ? We should be 
reproached, and abused, undoubtedly. But for one, I would a 
thousand times rather bear all the obloquy and abuse which that 
Society, fruitful of such things, can possibly heap upon me, than 
bear the responsibility of giving the countenance of my presence 
to its proceedings — or bear the curse of imbibing iu my heai't, its 



21 

wicked and malicious opinions. I can take the full storm of its 
abuse with a clear conscience ; but I could neither adopt its senti- 
ments, nor countenance its measures, without incurring a respon- 
sibility before God, which I dare not meet. lean go to the Judg- 
ment with its curses upon me, but 1 cannot go to the Judgment 
with its principles in me. 

Suppose we all stay away ; who of us would be injured! We 
have seen the triumphs of this Society's principles in the minds of 
men whom we have known. And we have also seen the result of 
that triumph, on the character of its disciples. In our own and in 
neighboring towns, there are converts to the principles and objects 
of that Society. And I ask you to ponder the eftect of those 
principles, as it is seen in the character of these men, whose re- 
cent Avay of life is known and read of all. Does it make such 
persons better citizens, to impregnate their hearts with the virus 
of this Society? Do they become more kind and gentle, and un- 
suspicious ; more benevolent, and forbearing, as neighbors and 
townsmen? Do they reverence the Sabbath more — frequent 
the Sanctuary oftener ? Do they make better christians ? Do 
they give the Churches less trouble with them ? It is by no 
means difficult to answer these questions. Again I ask — who of 
us will be injured, will lose any thing good by staying aAvay ? Let 
us then as a community, be faithful to ourselves — faithful to the 
Government to which we have sworn allegiance — faithful to the 
Church to which our fathers and Ave have given our most sacred 
vows. Let every one of us be faithful to an illustrious and buried 
ancestry, whose honored graves are still visible among us — faith- 
ful to an ancestry who gave their best blood to cement that Union 
which is now so openly and malignantly attacked — faithful to an 
ancestry who planted in tears and toils, the foundations of these 
Churches in the wilderness — and gave to these rising Churches 
their earliest prayers and their dying benedictions, and who now 
look down from their happy seats on high, and watch the history 
and the fate of every Church of the Pilgrims, with unceasing and 
parental affection ! Let us meet this attack upon all our choicest 
Institutions, not with force and violent repulsion — not with rac-e 
and angry opposition — nor yet with cowardly compromise and 
concession — but with a peaceable, a manly, a universal standing 
aloof. And let this Society meet in this place, the overwhelmino- 
rebuke, which the absence and the silence of a whole commu- 
nity, alone can give it. 



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